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Entry 15 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Board

/(bōrd)/ · IPA /bɔɹd/
01 n. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for building, etc.
  1. 1.
    A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for building, etc.
  2. 2.
    A table to put food upon.
    “Fruit of all kinds . . . She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand.” — Milton.
  3. 3.
    Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals; provision; entertainment; -- usually as furnished for pay; as, to work for one's board; the price of board.
  4. 4.
    A table at which a council or court is held.
    “Both better acquainted with affairs than any other who sat then at that board.” — Clarendon.
    “We may judge from their letters to the board.” — Porteus.
  5. 5.
    A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material used for some special purpose, as, a molding board; a board or surface painted or arranged for a game; as, a chessboard; a backgammon board.
  6. 6.
    Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.
  7. 7.
    The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to enter upon the theatrical profession.
  8. 8.
    The border or side of anything.(Naut.)
Phrases & compounds
The American Board — a shortened form of “The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions” (the foreign missionary society of the American Congregational churches).
Bed and board — See under Bed.
Board and board — side by side.
Board of control — six privy councilors formerly appointed to superintend the affairs of the British East Indies.
Board rule — a figured scale for finding without calculation the number of square feet in a board.
Board of trade — in England, a committee of the privy council appointed to superintend matters relating to trade. In the United States, a body of men appointed for the advancement and protection of their business interests; a chamber of commerce.
Board wages — Food and lodging supplied as compensation for services; as, to work hard, and get only board wages.
By the board — over the board, or side.
To go by the board — to suffer complete destruction or overthrow.
To enter on the boards — to have one's name inscribed on a board or tablet in a college as a student.
To make a good board — to sail in a straight line when close-hauled; to lose little to leeward.
To make short boards — to tack frequently.
On board — On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as, I came on board early; to be on board ship.
Returning board — a board empowered to canvass and make an official statement of the votes cast at an election.
02 v. t. To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house.
imp. & p. p. Boarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boarding
  1. 1.
    To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house.
  2. 2.
    To go on board of, or enter, as a ship, whether in a hostile or a friendly way.
    “You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or make a communication.” — Totten.
  3. 3.
    To enter, as a railway car.[Colloq. U. S.]
  4. 4.
    To furnish with regular meals, or with meals and lodgings, for compensation; to supply with daily meals.
  5. 5.
    To place at board, for compensation; as, to board one's horse at a livery stable.
03 v. i. To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel.
  1. 1.
    To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel.
    “We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house.” — Spectator.
04 v. t. To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo.
  1. 1.
    To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo.[Obs.]
    “I will board her, though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.” — Shak.